Today’s lunchtime kick-off live on Channel 4 sees second placed Leigh Leopards take on third placed Wigan Warriors in the so-called ‘Battle of the Borough’, with both teams entering the game desperate to win to help secure that priceless home playoff semi-final.
Both sides come in following bruising and draining Challenge Cup semi-finals in which the games went right to the wire, with Wigan’s even going to golden point.
Ultimately though Leigh progressed passed St Helens by a score of 12-10 giving them the opportunity to lift the Challenge Cup for the first time since 1971.
On the other hand Wigan Warriors won’t be able to repeat their 2022 victory as they fell short to Hull KR 11-10 after golden point.
The teams meet today with a victory for Wigan potentially allowing them to leapfrog Leigh into second place and close in on league leaders Catalans Dragons.
Both sides left their games last week relatively injury free although Willie Isa is out for Wigan with Matt Peet stating that was a case of “months not weeks”, whilst Leigh’s Ricky Leutele is also set for four months on the sideline.
Both Edwin Ipape and Joe Shorrocks sit out through suspension following their semi-final disciplinary charges.
📋 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦
✅ Matt Peet has named his team to face @LeighLeopardsRL this afternoon! #WWRL #SLWIGLEI pic.twitter.com/twLvUdwon0
— Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) July 29, 2023
Wigan have been boosted by their new signing Tyler Dupree who will start from the bench alongside fellow young prop Junior Nsemba.
Aside from the missing Isa it’s an incredibly strong Wigan side who will be out to put right last week’s loss.
As for the Leopards they’ve named a strong squad with the aforementioned Leutele missing out and hooker Ipape their other big miss.
Former Wigan man Zak Hardaker features whilst current favourite for Man of Steel Lachlan Lam operates in the halves alongside Ben Reynolds again.
The controversial figure of John Asiata, who was subject to plenty of talk following his tackling technique in last week’s Cup semi-final also features, with the PNG man and Leigh skipper being the competition’s standout number thirteen this season.
🔥 Your match-day squad to face @WiganWarriorsRL is in 🔥#betheroar #leythers pic.twitter.com/du10mqScSH
— Leigh Leopards (@LeighLeopardsRL) July 29, 2023
Jack Hughes makes his 300th career appearance whilst weekend try scorer Ollie Holmes pairs him in the second row.
Joe Wardle is fit enough to start from the bench after his return.
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